Part 106 (1/2)
”Oh yes, she did,” said Raby. ”She was at death's door a few months ago.”
”At death's door for one man, and now going to marry another!”
”Why not?” said Raby, hard pushed; ”she is a woman.”
”And why did you not tell me till now?” asked Mrs. Little, loftily ignoring her brother's pitiable attempt at a sneer.
Raby's reply to this was happier.
”Why, what the better are you for knowing it now? We had orders not to worry you unnecessarily. Had we not, Jael?”
”That is all very well, in some things. But, where my son is concerned, pray never keep the truth from me again. When did she break off with Henry--or did he quarrel with her?”
”I have no idea. I was not in the country.”
”Do YOU know, dear?”
”No, Mrs. Little. But I am of your mind. I think she could not have loved Mr. Henry as she ought.”
”When did you see her last?”
”I could not say justly, but it was a long while ago.”
Mrs. Little interpreted this that Jael had quarreled with Grace for her fickleness, and gave her a look of beaming affection; then fell into a dead silence, and soon tears were seen stealing down her cheek.
”But I shall write to her,” said she, after a long and painful silence.
Mr. Raby hoped she would do nothing of the kind.
”Oh, I shall not say much. I shall put her one question. Of course SHE knows why they part.”
Next morning Jael Dence asked Mr. Raby whether the threatened letter must be allowed to go.
”Of course it must,” said Raby. ”I have gone as far off the straight path as a gentleman can. And I wish we may not repent our ingenuity.
Deceive a mother about her son! what can justify it, after all?”
Mrs. Little wrote her letter, and showed it to Jael:
”DEAR MISS CARDEN,--They tell me you are about to be married. Can this be true, and Henry Little alive?”
An answer came back, in due course.
”DEAR MRS. LITTLE,--It is true, and I am miserable. Forgive me, and forget me.”
Mrs. Little discovered the marks of tears upon the paper, and was sorely puzzled.